Ways To Reduce EnergyBills All Winter Long (NAPSA)—According to the National Weather Service, the winter of 2005-2006 is expected to be the coldest on record. That means, in addition to frigid temperatures, consumers will also be getting a chill when they open their heating and energy bills. Jeffrey Mayer, an expert on natural gas, electricity and energy purchasing, pricing and deregulation, offers a numberof steps consumers can take to control their natural gas andelectricitybills: * Consult an energy marketer—These professionals work with consumers to determine their best energy choices based on usage, climate, home size and otherfactors. * Conservation—For every degree you lower your heat in the winter, you'll save up to five percent on heating costs. Wear warm clothing and set your thermostat to 68 degrees or lower during the day and evening. Setting the thermostat back to 55 degreesoroff at night or when leaving homefor an extended time saves five to 20 percent of your heating costs. * Insulation—Don’t let energy slip out of doors, windows and attic vents. Make sure your house is properly insulated. If your home has the proper insulation for your climate, you can reduce the amount of energy needed to heat and cool your home. Getit checked by a professional and make sure it’s up to par. *Be a smart shopper— Through a process called deregulation, many states allow you to buy natural gas and electricity from a provider other than your Did You Know? Thecoldest city in the U.S., based on normaldaily temperature, is Barrow, Alaska,with 4.1 degrees Fahrenheit. Average January temperatures for some of America’s major(and colder) cities include:Albany, NLY.: 22; Bismarck, N.D.: 10; Burlington, Vt: 18; Chicago, IIL: 22; Duluth, Minn.: 8; and Detroit, Mich.: 25. Gasoline prices have increased more than 132 percentin the last year and natural gasprices have increased more than 126 percent. e After electricity, natural gasis the most volatile commodity on the planet. Price changesin excess of 80 percent per year are common. Inthe U.S., 22 statesallow for the deregulated purchase of naturalgas and it is expected that morewill sign it into law in 2006. e If every household in the United States loweredits thermostatsix degreesovera 24-hour period, America would save the equivalent of more than 570,000 barrels ofoil. @ utility company. You may be able to lock in a fixed rate for your natural gas andelectricity, allowing you to know what to expect each month when you open your utility bill. Much like a fixed-rate mortgage, a fixed-rate utility bill helps you stabilize your budget to prepare for the heating season. For more information on how to control energy costs, contact an Energy Consultant at 1-800-7854373 or www.mxenergy.com.
